Project Winter Survival marks its 24th year of helping this city’s homeless population this weekend.
Three thousand Winter Survival Kits were donated to social agencies on Saturday to be distributed to those who need them most in the GTA.
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Each kit contains essentials that can mean the difference between life and death for those relying on shelters or sleeping rough in the winter: a sleeping bag, toque, scarf, winter gloves, socks and personal and health care items.
Project Winter Survival is the brainchild of the Engage and Change charity, a group of volunteers that does the annual legwork involved in acquiring needed items and putting the kits together.
It involves both individuals who donate their time and energy, and businesses that contribute money and product in a project that literally changes the lives of others for the better.
Every year, Project Winter Survival gets thousands of requests from social agencies for their special kits. The number of homeless in our city is close to 10,000, a situation exacerbated by city cutbacks, a shortage of mental healths supports and the ongoing opioid crisis.
“The growing plight of our city’s homeless goes from critical to deadly during the volatile winter season,” said Jody Steinhauer, president of The Bargains Group and Project Winter Survival founder.
“Ongoing challenges facing this high-risk group mean that increased numbers in need of warmth and shelter are left to fend off the elements as best they can. COVID strains and the growing opioid crisis has further impaired the life and death balance for this vulnerable community.”
Apex Global Logistics, Fortigo Freight Service, Toronto Police Services 13 Division, and The Bargains Group are among the community-minded partners who gathered in Concord, Ontario on Saturday for the Winter Survival Kit event.
More than 200 social service agencies, homeless shelters, and outreach relief agencies received the kits and will handle individual distribution.
Donations to the ongoing work done by Engage and Change can be made online.